Felix van Cleeff | 2023 | NL | 99’ | EN subs

In 2014 independent filmmaker Felix van Cleeff set out into the world, filming the lives of those around him, like a painter with the camera. From numerous hours of unique footage that he captured throughout the years with many people in various countries and languages, he created this visionary and eclectic work. River of Time is the first part in a longer poetic film cycle, but may also be viewed as a feature film in its own right. Everyday reality, the fragility of mankind and a rich variety of perspectives merge into a transcendental whole. 

With its fluid visual form and atmospheric sound design the film is an overwhelming sensorial experience and an impressionistic, near hallucinatory portrayal of our broken modern world, in search of healing. River of Time is above all a spirited and continuous quest for moments of wonder, the sublime in the mundane and the possibility of a radically free and open form of filmmaking. A cinematic labyrinth that invites the viewer to wander.

With an introduction by Peter Verstraten (lecturer Film and Literary Studies; University Leiden) and a Q&A afterwards.